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Sunday, April 16, 2017

Moby Dick, by Herman Melville

The narrator of this story is Ishmael, an outcast from
society. While he never really explains
much of his own personal circumstances, “Moby Dick” begins with Ishmael taking
to the sea in the hopes of changing his life.
He signs on board a Nantucket whaler called the Pequod, which is run by
an iron-fisted tyrant named Captain Ahab.
Once on the open seas, it becomes apparent to the crew that this sailing
is not driven by the huge profits that come from harvesting whale oil, but
rather so that their driven Captain can seek revenge on the whale that
disfigured him. The Pequod’s crew
travels the high seas, searching for any sign of that cursed white whale…Moby
Dick!

I’ve read “Moby Dick” several times in my life, and it’s
important to know that there are many different versions of this book. The original text by Mr. Melville is 600
pages long and steeped in detail—it’s still a fantastic read today, although
younger readers might be perfectly happy with an abridged version or even an
Illustrated Classics format. Whatever
version you choose, be sure to add “Moby Dick” to your reading bucket
list. Adventure awaits you on the high
seas!